written two previously. I received pretty comforting feedback on them,
so decided to post them on my site as well. I hope you'd enjoy them..
The second one:
"Cape breton Island Diary by Hande Bayik (Legs 1, 2)
Why on Earth?
"Racing across oceans!'
The reactions of most people always ended with an exclamation mark .
Most were full of respect, some green with envy and almost all,
completely puzzled: "Why on Earth?"
Looking at it objectively, getting 19 people who come from ridiculously
different backgrounds and stages of life, none of whom have met before,
on board a yacht to race across oceans sounds slightly nonsensical. What
would bring a farmer, investment banker, doctor, lawyer, marketeer,
student, teacher, journalist.... all aged between 19 and 63 and from 5
different countries, together?
Having now lived through one third of Race2, and having first hand
experience of this bizarre situation, I should know what I'm talking
about and feel the urge to share with you why we're doing this.
Every person on board had slightly different reasons for taking part in
the race: some want to take the experience onboard a racing yacht as a
first step forward to a professional sailing career, some want to be
really knowledgable about sailing and own their sailing boat hopefully
later, some just wanted an adventure, take a break, or simply use it as
a retirement gift. Our reasons for applying to be crew on the race are
as diverse as our backgrounds. Yet no matter what drew these first
intentions, there's an underlying one that we all share: the holy beauty
of sailing and challenge of racing.
Describing the experience, sailing across the ocean evokes a strong
sense of infinity as the horizon stretches from evry direction with
usually not a speck on it apart from the breaking waves. As we climb up
and down the waves, we are simply breathing together with the ocean,
feeling in tune and united with our environment, appreciating its beauty
while watching a sunset or a sunrise, or tracking a glittering path
illuminated by moonlight at night, while also bowing in respect to its
immense power. It really puts life into perspective, about how powerful,
yet how fragile and mortal we are. We all are drawn to be more "down to
earth", which in itself is against the force of nature. It's a holy
feeling, and sailing is like praying.
The boat life also has its gifts. Despite the continous rocking back and
forth, the lack of things you take for granted onshore like showers or
a toilet flush, and learning to spare water, function in very restricted
space and sleeping for max 3 hours at a time, the simplicity and
singlemindedness on board is a type of meditation. We end up cleaning
our minds of the worries of daily life, the multi-functionality, the
juggling, either while concentrating on sailing or by being exhausted by
it. We grow an appreciation for mundane little things (like wearing a
clean T-shirt - a real treat!)
And being in a race also brings its jewels. We have to learn, and learn
quickly about how to make most of the boat and sails, while taking care
of them. Creative problem solving is the name of the game on a daily
basis, as there are only so many things onboard, and we must keep
everything working properly and maintained. Racing also brings along a
physical and mental challenge requiring full concentration against all
odds and a continuous physical effort. The boat's and the crew's safety
lie in each other's hands, urging both a strong sense of responsibility
and trust.
And let's not forget too that there's also a strong sense of pride in
this whole experience as well. We're all proud to not let a dream pass
us by, but hold on to it, have the guts to realise it, and take every
effort to be able live it. We will look back on this experience and
recall proudly that we have raced across oceans.
At the end, there are only a few things in life that can propose all
these cherishes of a life all at once, and here we are, living it. This
is the reason "Why on Earth?"
Cape Breton Island standing by.
"
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